Patricia Ryan (Kildare South, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I appreciate that and thank the Minister for his answer, but I am quite concerned. We have discussed the cost of living. Some of these people are really struggling. In many cases the people who come to my door are struggling with either food or fuel poverty, and carers are at the top of that list, so I would like to see a minimum living wage for the sector at some point.

The committee recently examined the possibility of indexation of the welfare and taxation system. Does the Minister believe there is a potential to introduce that into the Irish system? If so, what format would it take, and is there a timeframe in mind?